“Long-term contracts have been concluded with this plant. This year it is expected to deliver 17 Sukhoi-30SM planes and ten Yakovlev-130 planes,” Borisov said while visiting the aircraft’s manufacturer – Irkutsk Aviation Plant.

He recalled that the Irkutsk plant was one of the contractors commissioned to provide frontline fighter-jets Sukhoi-30SM and Yakovlev-130.

The Sukhoi-30SM is the latest configuration of the heavy multi-role fighter Sukhoi-30 of generation 4+. It is highly maneuverable and equipped with a phased array antenna, thrust vectoring and front horizontal stabilizer. It is capable of using advanced and yet-to-be developed air-to-air and air-to-surface weapons. Its fuel endurance without refueling and extra tanks is up to 3,000 kilometers.

Russian Defense Ministry to get ten new Sukhoi-35S fighters in 2017

KOMSOMOLSK-ON-AMUR, March 9. /TASS/. The Russian Defense Ministry this year will get a batch of ten highly maneuverable multirole fighters Sukhoi-35S and another Sukhoi-27 will be upgraded to the Sukhoi-35 level, First Deputy Defense Minister Yuri Borisov told the media on Thursday.

“Last year we concluded a long-term contract for building Sukhoi-35S planes. This year we expect ten newly-built Sukhoi-35S fighters and another four Sukhoi-27s upgraded to match the Sukhoi-35 capabilities,” he said while visiting the Gagarin Aircraft-Building Plant in Komsomolsk-on-Amur.

Borisov spoke highly of the Sukhoi-35S parameters. “The pilots say the plane is great. It boasts unique flight and technical parameters. It was baptized by fire in Syria to have displayed excellent capabilities,” Borisov said.

The Sukhoi-35S is Russia’s highly maneuverable multirole fighter of generation 4++, developed by the Sukhoi design bureau. The plant in Komsomolsk-on-Amur was commissioned to build 50 Sukhoi-35S jets for the Defense Ministry by 2020. Ten planes are to be delivered every year. Since 2009 the plant has provided 48 planes for the Russian Armed Forces.